Greater Minnesota Tribal Transit Vehicle Grant

The Greater Minnesota Tribal Transit Vehicle Grant provides financial assistance to purchase a transit vehicle to enhance Tribal transit programs in Greater Minnesota. This capital grant program supports replacement and/or expansion of transit vehicles. State funding will be used for this grant opportunity administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Timeline

Oct. 15, 2025: Application period opens
Oct. 27, 2025: In-person meeting
Nov. 3, 2025: Application guidance webinar
Dec. 1, 2025: Applications deadline
On or before Jan. 1, 2026: Selected projects published

Eligibility

Organization eligibility

Eligible applicant: Tribal Governments receiving operating funds from Federal Transit Administration in Greater Minnesota is eligible to receive financial assistance through this grant opportunity.
Eligible activity: capital assistance to purchase public transit vehicles.

To be eligible, applicants must have an FTA-approved Transit Asset Management plan and clearly describe their vehicle capital need.

Vehicle eligibility

Eligible projects are limited to vans, minivans, and Class 300, 400 and 500 size vehicles. Vehicles that are proposed to be equipped with a lift assist compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will receive additional points.

Expansion vehicles (also described as "New"): Any vehicle that is not under a current grant agreement with MnDOT.
Replacement vehicles: Any vehicles to replace a vehicle or is currently funded under a FTA funds.

Guidance

Contact your project manager to request an invitation to our application guidance webinar on Nov. 3, 2025.

Application process

Contact your project manager if you need assistance with this application.

Step 1

Log into the BlackCat grant application program with your assigned user. If you do not have access to BlackCat or if you have difficulties with the application email Voni Vegar.

Step 2

Choose "2026 - Greater MN Tribal Transit Vehicle Grant" from the New Opportunities section.

Step 3

Follow the instructions to complete your application in BlackCat.

After you apply

We'll publish selected projects on or before Jan. 1, 2026
We'll contact awardees with instructions to enter into a grant agreement.

More information

Grant Agreements will be awarded based on the Statewide Review Committee’s recommendation upon evaluation of each application. To evaluate applications, the Statewide Review Committee will utilize the following criteria and scores.

The Statewide Review Committee includes, but is not limited to, representatives of MnDOT's Office of Transit and Active Transportation (OTAT) project managers; MnDOT's OTAT programming staff and MnDOT Tribal Liaison (or appointee).

A complete application will include a completed form, provided by MnDOT, with the following information:

Your agency’s need for a vehicle that is data-informed and consistent with your FTA Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan
Whether the vehicle will be ADA compliant
Vehicle utilization information.
Your proposed use in terms of (1) People served and (2) service coverage area
Cost information, including the estimated vehicle cost and your agency’s commitment to share this cost (10% minimum). Your agency will also be responsible for any cost increases over the cost indicated in this application.

Scoring criteria

Criteria	Points
Provide a statement about the urgency of need and/or the impact(s) this vehicle can have for services that includes supporting data. Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan language that supports your statement of need.	If statement of need: 1 pt - is unclear, lacking data, or TAM references. 3 pts – addresses the need, but lacks data. 5 pts – addresses need and has some data. 7 pts– is compelling, but critical issues go unanswered. 10 pts – presents a narrative and data for an urgent and high-impact investment.
ADA compliant Is the vehicle being purchased ADA compliant with a lift, tie downs, etc.?	10 pts – fully ADA compliant (including a Lift) 0 pts – not accessible
Vehicle utilization (miles) Provide reported data for the replacement vehicle OR Provide a plan estimate for the new vehicle	10 pts – 15,001 miles annually or more 5 pts – 15,000 miles annually 3 pts – 10,000 miles annually 0 pts – less than 10,000 miles annually
Vehicle utilization (days per week) Provide reported data for the replacement vehicle OR Provide proposed services for the new vehicle	10 pts – 5 days per week 5 pts – 3+ days per week 3 pts – 1 to 2 days per week 0 pts – less than 1 day per week
Rides served per hour Provide reported data for the replacement vehicle OR Provide proposed services for the new vehicle	10 pts – 2+ rides per hr. 5 pts – 1 ride per hr. 3 pts – .5 ride per hr. 0 pts – less than .5 rides per hr.
Service coverage area Provide the percentage of the service area covered by the replacement vehicle, OR Provide the percentage of the service area increase due to the new vehicle.	10 pts if >30% of your total service area 5 pts if 15-30% of your total service area 3 pts if 5-14% of your total service areas 0 pts if 0% of total service areas
The transit system’s financial commitment to the project	10 pts if your share is 50% or more 5 pts if your share is 25-49% 3 pts if your share is 11%-24% 0 pts if your share is 10%

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13.03, subd. 1, all government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by a government entity shall be public unless classified by statute, or temporary classification pursuant to section 13.06, or federal law, as nonpublic or protected nonpublic, or with respect to data on individuals, as private or confidential. The responsible authority in every government entity shall keep records containing government data in such an arrangement and condition as to make them easily accessible for convenient use. Photographic, photostatic, microphotographic, or microfilmed records shall be considered as accessible for convenient use regardless of the size of such records.